WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

PARTIES AND POLITICS. THE OAMAIIU CONTEST. [Sj’EClai. To The Geatuhan.] WELLINGTON, April 20. The “Evening Post” is fearful lest the bye-election in Oamaru should still further widen the breach between the Reformers and the Liberals and so extinguish all hope of their over comingtogether in amity to resist the inroads of the Socialists and of other evilly disposed people. “When party feeling could not be kept out of die Tauranga by-election,'’ it says, “it is obviously quite hopeless to expect that it should he set aside in Oamaru. ii is not, however, unreasonable to hope that its importance may not he exaggerated, nor the light waged with such hittcr-ne-.s a- io make future co-operation between Liberal aid Reform impossible.” The son of moderation it would impose upon the contesting parties apparently is that the Prime Minister, on account of the Government’s very intimate coiuern in the result, would he allowed the free rein of the constituency, while the “whole battalion of campaigners” who introduced .so much bitterness into the Tauranga contest would he rigidly excluded. No doubt Air Massey would readily consent to an arrangement of this kind, since he is the only really effective platform speaker among the members of the Cabinet, but even ho would sec the injustice of having imported talent brought in from only one side. ; KIR JOSEPH WARD’S VIEW.

On returning to Wellington the othoi day Sir Joseph Ward was highly amused to learn that his trip South had been attributed to a desire on his part to become a candidate for tlie vacant Oamaru seat. “The gossips can hardly have believed iheir own story,” ho said when discussing the matter this morning. “.Mr Mnepherxon is a very old personal and political friend id mine, and even had I desired to enter upon another contest just now I never should have dreamed of intruding upon Lis preserves. Anyway he is very well aide to hob! his own against both the Prime .Minister and his ox-colleague fu a constituency where he is so well known as he is in Oamaru.” Kir Joseph has not abandoned his idea of delivering addresses in various centres before the next session of Parliament: hut lie wishes to dissociate them from party wrangling and this cannot be done till the Oamaru election is over. Meanwhile he is glad to see the Minister of Internal Affairs warning the Wellington Chamber of Commerce to accept his chief's pictures of returned prosperity with some measure of reservation. There can be no true return of prosperity, he says, till the finances of the Dominion are placed upon a sound basis. MODIFIED OPT!M ISM.

Kir Joseph's allusion to the Hon W Downie Stewart and the Prime Minister has do with a speech the former gentleman delivered at the annual meeting of the Wullington Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday in which he referred to the improved financial condition of the country in terms which the “Post” described as “modified optimism.” “The Minister of Customs agreed with the chairman," the summary of his remark* ran, “that there was a si l ong spirit of optimism fibou!, hut h” could hardly go as fin as to sax they had returned definitely to a state of prosperity. The present revival might not last and the predictions of the economists were not reassuring. The prospects for the season M'2'l-25 might he fairly serious. The country should take advantage of the present prosperity to make everything snug and shipshape for another storm, in case the present stage of recovery was only temporary." .Mr Downie Stewart has a habit of candour which ai times must he sadiv embarrassing to his chief, but Mr Massey has no more loyal nor capable colleague than this young man from Dunedin, and none that imparls more strength to the Government. L. his case what would he heresy in a less independent thinker may he pardoned. DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. The surplus for the financial year iust .closed, of which Mr Massey. quite naturally, is making mm It in the Oanvaru contest, is regarded by politicians and newspapers here from different view points, according !-■ their parly predilections. Those leaning towards Reform see in the spare million at the Treasury indisputable testimony to Mr .Ma-scy's ability and foresight as a financier. Those supporting the Liberal cause ridicule the idea that the Prime .Minister has had anything to do with the result of the year's operations. The surplus, they say, is the

result of the improvement in the price of wool and moat and of tlie enormous increase in the production of bmteiTat. The Labour critics call a plague on both the older houses for their excessive taxation and for its inequitable distribution. The truth of the whole matter seems to ho that the results at the Treasury are governed mainly by what is happening in the world’s markets. All that can he done at thiond io create surpluses is to keep up taxation and keep down expenditure. Mr Abissey is now committed to a reduction oi taxation, which many husilioss people here think is long over-

due, hut seemingly his colleague of Customs and Internal Affair- doubt's the wisdom of the contemplated eoncessions. ■ lIIH 1111 I 1 Hi I 111 l|' 111 I U llilf IWITI